Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot & Cassandra. Everything else belongs to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and the WB.
Finished: October 28, 2000
Mush Alert: In this story, I wanted everything to end somewhat happily so beware!
~~ Chapter One ~~
It was Thursday morning and Angel sat reading the letter Willow had written him, updating him on the situation in Sunnydale.
"Dear Angel,
We have yet another demon that's after Buffy to deal with, but it's different this time. She needs your help because she's lost her Slayer abilities." Angel's eyes grew wide and he stood up. Not his Buffy! "I guess you're wondering why this guy's after her, huh? Well she killed his brother a while ago and he finally found her. Sort of a revenge deal. The new slayer's here but she's not strong enough to handle him herself. Oh yeah, I'm her Watcher! Isn't that cool? Well anyway, there's no immediate danger since she moved into a new apartment and it doesn't know where she lives. But we would appreciate it if you could come help us. Buffy doesn't know I'm writing this, but we 'Scoobies' agreed you would be the best protection for her. Thanks. Willow."
Angel dropped the letter on his desk and called Cordelia on the phone. "Cordy, pack some clothes, we're going to Sunnydale. Call Wesley and tell him we're going and that he should stay and keep things in order here."
"Angel, I don't want to go...and what if Wesley has a vision?" Cordelia protested. Wesley had received Cordelia's visions from her when they had spent the night together a few years ago. They were both glad that the switch had taken place since Wesley could identify the demons easier and Cordelia hated the splitting headaches. Cordelia and Wesley both agreed their fling was a mistake and that they would just remain friends.
"Just do it," he snapped at her. "Buffy's in trouble. I'll call Gunn." They hung up and called their friends. In the afternoon they left for Sunnydale in Angel's sun-proof car.
"So who's Buffy?" Gunn asked while Angel was driving.
Cordelia whispered in Gunn's ear. "She's Angel's old girlfriend. They got pretty hot and heavy and he turned evil when they--well, you know...perfect happiness. I told you about her before."
"Oh, her." Gunn whispered back.
"You know I can hear you guys, even without my vampire hearing." Angel said with a smirk. "It's nice to know you fill Gunn in on all the info that's not case-related too, Cordelia."
"Well, he should know, just in case it happens again." she defended herself.
"It won't happen again. And no more talking about Buffy." Angel ordered.
Cordelia sat in the front passenger seat silently. *This is going to be a long trip.* She thought to herself.
~~ Chapter Two ~~
"You what?!" Buffy exclaimed walking into Giles' magic shop. It was just after 9pm and the sun was already down. "Willow, how could you?!"
"B-Buffy," Willow stuttered. "You weren't supposed to hear that."
"Oh, well I'll just pretend I don't know that my ex-boyfriend is coming to Sunnydale to protect me." she said sarcastically. Her face softened a little. "Well, when's he getting here?"
"Right about now," she heard a voice behind her and there stood Angel in the doorway, dressed in his usual black attire and his leather duster. "What no welcome doormat, Giles?" he joked.
Cordelia and Gunn entered the shop, leaving him outside carrying stakes and crosses. "Geez, Angel, what did you tell them about Sunnydale? It looks like they're ready for another Harvest." Buffy joked. Nobody laughed.
Cassandra broke the silence. "You're a vampire!" she said narrowing her eyes and grabbing a stake from her belt.
"No Cass, it's ok, he's a good vamp." Xander said putting his hand on her stake.
"But you said there are no good vamps, just weak ones." she quoted him.
Xander let out an embarrassed chuckle. "Um, Angel, I don't know where she got that from."
"I see you're still trying to brainwash the girls of Sunnydale, Xander." Cordelia stepped in. "Hasn't worked in your favor yet, huh, Xander?"
"Xander and I dated for a few years, but I dumped him a couple weeks ago." Anya said honestly, standing behind the register. Xander gave her a sarcastic 'thank-you' smile.
"Hey I remember you, you almost destroyed Sunnydale," Cordelia said to Anya.
"It was your wish, I just granted it." Anya argued back. "If I had known it would get my pendant destroyed I wouldn't have done it."
"That's enough!" everyone turned to look at Giles. He hardly ever got impatient and everyone was surprised, even Angel. "Please come inside Angel and close the door behind you."
Angel closed the door and pulled down the shade. "So what's up?" he asked casually. "Have you found out what kind of demon it is yet?"
"Not really," Willow said. "But we know it's really big."
"You haven't seen it yet?" Gunn asked.
"Not very well, but it's the last demon's brother so we're guessing it's the same kind." Xander said.
"Well it may not be," Angel replied. "Most demons don't usually remain faithful to one partner."
Buffy silently stared at Angel. "I'm going to go work out for a bit. If you find out anything, let me know." she said as she stood up.
Angel looked up at her from where he was sitting. "Well, it's dangerous out there Buffy, you shouldn't go alone. I'll-"
"It's ok Angel, there's a gym in the back room. Riley, Xander and Giles built it for me." she said smiling at Xander and Giles.
"Oh," was all he could say. "So, where is Riley?" he asked, trying to sound casual after Buffy left the room.
Everybody looked at each other, unsure of what to say. Finally Cassandra spoke up. "Riley broke up with Buffy a couple of years ago cause she was still in love with her old boyfriend." she said not realizing that's who Angel was. Angel looked at the ground and smiled a little but quickly removed it when he realized that everybody was staring at him.
"Uh, Cass?" Willow spoke up. "Why don't you go patrol the graveyard, there should be some 'new arrivals'." she said.
"Sure thing, boss." she said rolling her eyes. "I never get to be around the interesting stuff. It's always vampires, demons, and homework." she complained while leaving the magic shop.
~~ Chapter Three ~~
Buffy worked out in her private gym as the radio played. She grunted as she kicked and punched the bags and the stuffed man that Xander had made for her.
"Well aren't you a sight for sore eyes." a man's voice said. Buffy jumped at the voice and spun around to face the man who it belonged to.
She smiled and ran up to him. They shared a long passionate kiss and finally broke apart. "Do you know how long I've waited to see you again?" she asked him.
"Sorry, baby, but it's not my fault I can't visit you in the daytime, unless you want to make out with a pile of dust." he said smiling at her. "But it's worth the wait isn't it? They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder."
"Who are they?" Buffy asked her lover.
"I don't know, those people that say things like that I guess." he replied then asked, "Have you been working out long?"
"Not really, about 20 minutes. I don't have the energy that I used to, but I'm holding up. I think that's good enough for tonight." Buffy answered. "Are you hungry?"
"A little, but let's go somewhere else more private." he said, looking around the training area.
"I gotta stay, we're trying to find out what this demon is." she looked down at her shoes sadly.
He cupped her chin and lifted her head to look into her eyes. "You are so beautiful. I don't know why anyone would want to hurt you," he said sincerely.
She put her arms around his waist and laid her head on his chest. "You used to want to," she mocked, breathing in his cologne.
"But that was before I knew you." he said softly.
"I have to shower, I feel icky." she said, standing away from him. She looked at him slyly. "I could use a little help with that hard-to-reach spot on my back."
"I guess I could lend a hand or two," he said taking her hand and walking towards the bathroom in the back of the gym. Neither of them saw Angel standing in the doorway. *Buffy and Spike are involved? I thought I was her Angel.* He thought sadly.
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In the shower, Buffy spoke softly. "Angel's here. I didn't know until about half an hour ago."
"Peaches?" Spike asked with a surprised look on his face. "So what brings that pouf back to Sunnyhell?"
"Willow told him to come back and help find this demon. Are you jealous?" Buffy asked.
"Who, me? Of that eunuch? Not bloody likely." he said with an unsure tone. "Do you still love him?"
"I don't know--Spike, we had an arrangement. After you got that chip out, I would let you drink my blood if you would stop killing innocent people." she continued. "Our arrangement became physical and we promised that there would be no strings attached. Are you telling me that you have developed--strings?"
He looked into her eyes. "Look Slayer, I don't have mushy feelings for you, but I don't want that idiot to hurt you anymore than he has. Sorry if I've started to care."
Buffy ran her hands through his wet hair. "That's really sweet, Spike. Please try to get along with him for now, okay?"
"For your sake." he said.
"Now kiss me. And I'll let you have your dinner." she told him and moved her hands to his shoulders.
"Yes ma'am." he said. He wrapped his strong arms around her and followed through with his order.
Her kisses were filled with hunger. Hunger for Angel? She wasn't sure. Spike didn't notice. He was lost in the sensation of loving her.
Finished: October 28, 2000
Mush Alert: In this story, I wanted everything to end somewhat happily so beware!
~~ Chapter One ~~
It was Thursday morning and Angel sat reading the letter Willow had written him, updating him on the situation in Sunnydale.
"Dear Angel,
We have yet another demon that's after Buffy to deal with, but it's different this time. She needs your help because she's lost her Slayer abilities." Angel's eyes grew wide and he stood up. Not his Buffy! "I guess you're wondering why this guy's after her, huh? Well she killed his brother a while ago and he finally found her. Sort of a revenge deal. The new slayer's here but she's not strong enough to handle him herself. Oh yeah, I'm her Watcher! Isn't that cool? Well anyway, there's no immediate danger since she moved into a new apartment and it doesn't know where she lives. But we would appreciate it if you could come help us. Buffy doesn't know I'm writing this, but we 'Scoobies' agreed you would be the best protection for her. Thanks. Willow."
Angel dropped the letter on his desk and called Cordelia on the phone. "Cordy, pack some clothes, we're going to Sunnydale. Call Wesley and tell him we're going and that he should stay and keep things in order here."
"Angel, I don't want to go...and what if Wesley has a vision?" Cordelia protested. Wesley had received Cordelia's visions from her when they had spent the night together a few years ago. They were both glad that the switch had taken place since Wesley could identify the demons easier and Cordelia hated the splitting headaches. Cordelia and Wesley both agreed their fling was a mistake and that they would just remain friends.
"Just do it," he snapped at her. "Buffy's in trouble. I'll call Gunn." They hung up and called their friends. In the afternoon they left for Sunnydale in Angel's sun-proof car.
"So who's Buffy?" Gunn asked while Angel was driving.
Cordelia whispered in Gunn's ear. "She's Angel's old girlfriend. They got pretty hot and heavy and he turned evil when they--well, you know...perfect happiness. I told you about her before."
"Oh, her." Gunn whispered back.
"You know I can hear you guys, even without my vampire hearing." Angel said with a smirk. "It's nice to know you fill Gunn in on all the info that's not case-related too, Cordelia."
"Well, he should know, just in case it happens again." she defended herself.
"It won't happen again. And no more talking about Buffy." Angel ordered.
Cordelia sat in the front passenger seat silently. *This is going to be a long trip.* She thought to herself.
~~ Chapter Two ~~
"You what?!" Buffy exclaimed walking into Giles' magic shop. It was just after 9pm and the sun was already down. "Willow, how could you?!"
"B-Buffy," Willow stuttered. "You weren't supposed to hear that."
"Oh, well I'll just pretend I don't know that my ex-boyfriend is coming to Sunnydale to protect me." she said sarcastically. Her face softened a little. "Well, when's he getting here?"
"Right about now," she heard a voice behind her and there stood Angel in the doorway, dressed in his usual black attire and his leather duster. "What no welcome doormat, Giles?" he joked.
Cordelia and Gunn entered the shop, leaving him outside carrying stakes and crosses. "Geez, Angel, what did you tell them about Sunnydale? It looks like they're ready for another Harvest." Buffy joked. Nobody laughed.
Cassandra broke the silence. "You're a vampire!" she said narrowing her eyes and grabbing a stake from her belt.
"No Cass, it's ok, he's a good vamp." Xander said putting his hand on her stake.
"But you said there are no good vamps, just weak ones." she quoted him.
Xander let out an embarrassed chuckle. "Um, Angel, I don't know where she got that from."
"I see you're still trying to brainwash the girls of Sunnydale, Xander." Cordelia stepped in. "Hasn't worked in your favor yet, huh, Xander?"
"Xander and I dated for a few years, but I dumped him a couple weeks ago." Anya said honestly, standing behind the register. Xander gave her a sarcastic 'thank-you' smile.
"Hey I remember you, you almost destroyed Sunnydale," Cordelia said to Anya.
"It was your wish, I just granted it." Anya argued back. "If I had known it would get my pendant destroyed I wouldn't have done it."
"That's enough!" everyone turned to look at Giles. He hardly ever got impatient and everyone was surprised, even Angel. "Please come inside Angel and close the door behind you."
Angel closed the door and pulled down the shade. "So what's up?" he asked casually. "Have you found out what kind of demon it is yet?"
"Not really," Willow said. "But we know it's really big."
"You haven't seen it yet?" Gunn asked.
"Not very well, but it's the last demon's brother so we're guessing it's the same kind." Xander said.
"Well it may not be," Angel replied. "Most demons don't usually remain faithful to one partner."
Buffy silently stared at Angel. "I'm going to go work out for a bit. If you find out anything, let me know." she said as she stood up.
Angel looked up at her from where he was sitting. "Well, it's dangerous out there Buffy, you shouldn't go alone. I'll-"
"It's ok Angel, there's a gym in the back room. Riley, Xander and Giles built it for me." she said smiling at Xander and Giles.
"Oh," was all he could say. "So, where is Riley?" he asked, trying to sound casual after Buffy left the room.
Everybody looked at each other, unsure of what to say. Finally Cassandra spoke up. "Riley broke up with Buffy a couple of years ago cause she was still in love with her old boyfriend." she said not realizing that's who Angel was. Angel looked at the ground and smiled a little but quickly removed it when he realized that everybody was staring at him.
"Uh, Cass?" Willow spoke up. "Why don't you go patrol the graveyard, there should be some 'new arrivals'." she said.
"Sure thing, boss." she said rolling her eyes. "I never get to be around the interesting stuff. It's always vampires, demons, and homework." she complained while leaving the magic shop.
~~ Chapter Three ~~
Buffy worked out in her private gym as the radio played. She grunted as she kicked and punched the bags and the stuffed man that Xander had made for her.
"Well aren't you a sight for sore eyes." a man's voice said. Buffy jumped at the voice and spun around to face the man who it belonged to.
She smiled and ran up to him. They shared a long passionate kiss and finally broke apart. "Do you know how long I've waited to see you again?" she asked him.
"Sorry, baby, but it's not my fault I can't visit you in the daytime, unless you want to make out with a pile of dust." he said smiling at her. "But it's worth the wait isn't it? They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder."
"Who are they?" Buffy asked her lover.
"I don't know, those people that say things like that I guess." he replied then asked, "Have you been working out long?"
"Not really, about 20 minutes. I don't have the energy that I used to, but I'm holding up. I think that's good enough for tonight." Buffy answered. "Are you hungry?"
"A little, but let's go somewhere else more private." he said, looking around the training area.
"I gotta stay, we're trying to find out what this demon is." she looked down at her shoes sadly.
He cupped her chin and lifted her head to look into her eyes. "You are so beautiful. I don't know why anyone would want to hurt you," he said sincerely.
She put her arms around his waist and laid her head on his chest. "You used to want to," she mocked, breathing in his cologne.
"But that was before I knew you." he said softly.
"I have to shower, I feel icky." she said, standing away from him. She looked at him slyly. "I could use a little help with that hard-to-reach spot on my back."
"I guess I could lend a hand or two," he said taking her hand and walking towards the bathroom in the back of the gym. Neither of them saw Angel standing in the doorway. *Buffy and Spike are involved? I thought I was her Angel.* He thought sadly.
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In the shower, Buffy spoke softly. "Angel's here. I didn't know until about half an hour ago."
"Peaches?" Spike asked with a surprised look on his face. "So what brings that pouf back to Sunnyhell?"
"Willow told him to come back and help find this demon. Are you jealous?" Buffy asked.
"Who, me? Of that eunuch? Not bloody likely." he said with an unsure tone. "Do you still love him?"
"I don't know--Spike, we had an arrangement. After you got that chip out, I would let you drink my blood if you would stop killing innocent people." she continued. "Our arrangement became physical and we promised that there would be no strings attached. Are you telling me that you have developed--strings?"
He looked into her eyes. "Look Slayer, I don't have mushy feelings for you, but I don't want that idiot to hurt you anymore than he has. Sorry if I've started to care."
Buffy ran her hands through his wet hair. "That's really sweet, Spike. Please try to get along with him for now, okay?"
"For your sake." he said.
"Now kiss me. And I'll let you have your dinner." she told him and moved her hands to his shoulders.
"Yes ma'am." he said. He wrapped his strong arms around her and followed through with his order.
Her kisses were filled with hunger. Hunger for Angel? She wasn't sure. Spike didn't notice. He was lost in the sensation of loving her.